3 ms·

Microsoft isn't a hardware company. Apple's supply chain dominance is what brought this to market. Microsoft sells some rebranded hardware products (manufactu

Microsoft isn't a hardware company. Apple's supply chain dominance is what brought this to market. Microsoft sells some rebranded hardware products (manufactured and designed by Samsung, Acer, IBM, ATI, Nvidia and Asus)... but it makes PROFIT by selling software. Apples makes software, but it makes its PROFIT by selling hardware.

calpaterson 14y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Natural_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Natural_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeCam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeCam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox
- lawnchair_larry 14y ago
  All whitelabel products.
  - UnoriginalGuy 14y ago
    The X-Box is a whitelabel product?
    - MetaCosm 14y ago
      Depends how you define it. But, X-Box (the original) was a PIII + Nvidia + Other PC Hardware... none of it made by Microsoft. The 360 I give them more credit with, because they worked closer with partners and got off the WinTel brand... opting for PowerPC chips with ATI ... again, not manufacturing the hardware.
      - dualogy 14y ago
        "again, not manufacturing the hardware" -- well, you noticed all Macs have nvidia or amd/ati GPUs and Intel processors, and are assembled by Foxconn? "That's because Apple isn't a real hardware company, it's all white-labelled." I guess?
        MetaCosm 14y ago
        I define companies by WHAT MAKES THEM MONEY. I can't tell if people are pedantic or dense. Apple makes money by selling hardware. Microsoft makes money by selling software. Google makes money by selling ads. Amazon makes money by selling goods. Graphic for the insanely dense: http://visualign.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/applemicrosoftgoogleamazonnumbers1.png http://visualign.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/applemicrosoftg...
        calpaterson 14y ago
        You aren't "defining" companies, you are /classifying/ them and you're classifying them into arbitrary boxes based on your strange, subjective and clearly disputed perceptions. Let's move on from your inability to admit the silliness of classifying a large company with many different divisions as a "software company" and go back to your original contention: that Microsoft were unable to bring a new hardware device to market because they did not have a enough "supply chain dominance". Whatever "supply chain dominance means", you're wrong --- Microsoft have, in the past, released hardware products. The Xbox is an obvious example. So is Microsoft Surface. There is nothing more "whitelabel" about these products than there is about the MacBookPro.
        MetaCosm 14y ago
        It is different, "Microsoft Surface" is a damn Samsung product you can see on Samsung's site. http://www.samsunglfd.com/product/feature.do?modelCd=SUR40 http://www.samsunglfd.com/product/feature.do?modelCd=SUR40 ... and how many models do you think will ever ship, over its entire lifetime? Apple designs its own hardware, even does some FAB work now in regards to its chips. Microsoft doesn't move enough hardware to have anywhere near the supply chain power of Apple. Microsoft is a pathetic flee in the hardware world compared to apple. Hardware (manufactured and DESIGNED by others) makes up less than 20% of Microsoft's business. Apple is first and foremost a hardware company. Apple is known for its incredibly well run supply chain and operations which give them amazing power to lean on manufacturers. Apple will guarantee and lock in massive purchases removing the vast majority of risk from the hardware vendors, allowing hardware vendors to take risks on stuff like the Retina Display. Nearly all of Microsoft's non-trivial plays have failed pushing and partnering with people. They promised to market and move tablets for years... FAIL. Windows Phone was going to change the world... FAIL. Zune... FAIL. Hardware vendors or rightfully terrified of Microsoft as a partner, even when they fully commit -- you know why? MICROSOFT IS NOT A HARDWARE COMPANY. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secr... ... and google "Apple Supply Chain" to find literally dozens of more stories about how good they are at this.

calpaterson 14y ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Natural_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Natural_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeCam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeCam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox

lawnchair_larry 14y ago
All whitelabel products.
- UnoriginalGuy 14y ago
  The X-Box is a whitelabel product?
  - MetaCosm 14y ago
    Depends how you define it. But, X-Box (the original) was a PIII + Nvidia + Other PC Hardware... none of it made by Microsoft. The 360 I give them more credit with, because they worked closer with partners and got off the WinTel brand... opting for PowerPC chips with ATI ... again, not manufacturing the hardware.
    - dualogy 14y ago
      "again, not manufacturing the hardware" -- well, you noticed all Macs have nvidia or amd/ati GPUs and Intel processors, and are assembled by Foxconn? "That's because Apple isn't a real hardware company, it's all white-labelled." I guess?
      - MetaCosm 14y ago
        I define companies by WHAT MAKES THEM MONEY. I can't tell if people are pedantic or dense. Apple makes money by selling hardware. Microsoft makes money by selling software. Google makes money by selling ads. Amazon makes money by selling goods. Graphic for the insanely dense: http://visualign.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/applemicrosoftgoogleamazonnumbers1.png http://visualign.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/applemicrosoftg...
        calpaterson 14y ago
        You aren't "defining" companies, you are /classifying/ them and you're classifying them into arbitrary boxes based on your strange, subjective and clearly disputed perceptions. Let's move on from your inability to admit the silliness of classifying a large company with many different divisions as a "software company" and go back to your original contention: that Microsoft were unable to bring a new hardware device to market because they did not have a enough "supply chain dominance". Whatever "supply chain dominance means", you're wrong --- Microsoft have, in the past, released hardware products. The Xbox is an obvious example. So is Microsoft Surface. There is nothing more "whitelabel" about these products than there is about the MacBookPro.
        MetaCosm 14y ago
        It is different, "Microsoft Surface" is a damn Samsung product you can see on Samsung's site. http://www.samsunglfd.com/product/feature.do?modelCd=SUR40 http://www.samsunglfd.com/product/feature.do?modelCd=SUR40 ... and how many models do you think will ever ship, over its entire lifetime? Apple designs its own hardware, even does some FAB work now in regards to its chips. Microsoft doesn't move enough hardware to have anywhere near the supply chain power of Apple. Microsoft is a pathetic flee in the hardware world compared to apple. Hardware (manufactured and DESIGNED by others) makes up less than 20% of Microsoft's business. Apple is first and foremost a hardware company. Apple is known for its incredibly well run supply chain and operations which give them amazing power to lean on manufacturers. Apple will guarantee and lock in massive purchases removing the vast majority of risk from the hardware vendors, allowing hardware vendors to take risks on stuff like the Retina Display. Nearly all of Microsoft's non-trivial plays have failed pushing and partnering with people. They promised to market and move tablets for years... FAIL. Windows Phone was going to change the world... FAIL. Zune... FAIL. Hardware vendors or rightfully terrified of Microsoft as a partner, even when they fully commit -- you know why? MICROSOFT IS NOT A HARDWARE COMPANY. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secr... ... and google "Apple Supply Chain" to find literally dozens of more stories about how good they are at this.